Information About Sorcha - Dublin tutor -

(6 reviews)

Personal Description:

I am an Astrophysics PhD student at Trinity College Dublin. I hold both a Masters in Atmospheric and Space Science and a Bachelors degree in Astrophysics. As part of my degrees, I have received a thorough training in many aspects of Physics and Maths.

Over the last few years (both during and after the pandemic), I have carried out virtual, one-on-one classes several times a week in all levels of Maths and Physics.

Tutoring Experience:

I have given maths grinds previously for Junior cert and Leaving cert students at both Higher and Ordinary Level. I have carried out Maths grinds in Irish for students who are in a Gaelcholaiste, as I am a past pupil of one myself, and received my own maths secondary education through Irish.

During my undergrad degree, I took part in a program called Peer Assisted Learning, in which I helped and tutored first year science students who had no experience with physics with their physics curriculum. I took part in the program in my second and third year and earned 5 credits for my work in the program. During my undergrad, I was also a Physics laboratory demonstrator for first year science students. I demonstrated the experiments at hand and helped the students with any part of the experiments (practical elements, calculations, drawing graphs, writing reports) that they may have had trouble with.

As part of my PhD I regularly demonstrate lab experiment for the undergraduates. I am also an educator in Trinity College's Walton Club, in which I teach extracurricular Maths to Junior Cert level students on a weekly basis.

Approach to Grinds:

I think one of the most important things for grinds is to make the student feel relaxed and make sure they know that any questions or difficulty they may have is valid, and can be over come.
After explaining how to solve a problem and carrying out examples with students, I tend to ask the student to repeat the method back to me so that any issues they have with it and where their difficulties lie are made clear and so we can focus on that point until they understand it properly.

For exam level students, I find the best thing to do with them is to go over past exam questions, until they are comfortable with the subject. This offers them the opportunity to practice what they'll see in the exam with someone there to help and guide them if they get stuck.